An Exciting New Future for Windermere Hotel

Posted November 30th, 2017

A much-loved Lake District hotel specialising in accommodation for people with sight loss, is celebrating after being bought by Starboard Hotels, a leading family run UK hotel property owner and operator.

The 35 bedroom Windermere Manor Hotel, in the heart of the Lake District National Park, has today (Thursday, November 30th) been acquired by Starboard Hotels after it was put on the market last year with an asking price of £1.5million by the charity Guide Dogs and the RNIB, (Royal National Institute for the Blind) under the Vision Hotels brand.

Now the hotel, which has been a popular holiday and weekend break destination for thousands of visually impaired people, guide dog owners and tourists has its future secured after London based Starboard Hotels stepped in to purchase the property,

Starboard Hotels is one of the hospitality sector’s fastest growing, privately owned operator/owners of multi branded hotels who now have 14 hotels across the UK under leading brands including Holiday Inn Express, Best Western, Days Inn and Ibis.

Paul Callingham, Managing Director of Starboard Hotels said the company is “thrilled” that their bid to buy the Windermere Manor for an undisclosed sum has been successful adding that this now marks an exciting new era for the hotel.

Working in harmony with the hotel team and local volunteers who help out with guests requiring assistance, often with their guide dogs, Starboard Hotels will be continuing to provide facilities that make this unique hotel a warm and welcoming destination for all.

Reassuring loyal guests and newcomers, Paul explains: “We intend to sympathetically restore the hotel, maintaining the great facilities that already exist for people with sight loss and their families, alongside offering superb facilities for everyone to enjoy.”

Andrew Wilson, General Manager of the Windermere Manor Hotel adds: “I am pleased to report that the hotel is now under new ownership. Starboard Hotels are seeking to improve the hotel facilities and overall experience for all our guests and fully embrace the

opportunity to continue working with the blind and partially sighted. This is an exciting time for the hotel. Our team is very much looking forward to our new positioning as part of a successful portfolio of hotels that truly understands the needs of our guests, our staff and volunteers.”

A spokesperson for the charity Guide Dogs added: “We are delighted to complete the sale of the Windermere Manor and that Starboard Hotels has committed to continuing to provide facilities for guests with sight loss. We know how much this means to our guide dog owners and we wish the hotel every success.”

An RNIB spokesperson said: “We believe this sale represents the very best outcome for the hotel staff, who will continue in their roles, and for all guests.”

Kerian Barnes Group Operations Director for Starboard Hotels based at their Chorley hub said: “We will be fully engaging with the unique facilities that are already in place and will be sympathetically restoring this magnificent Victorian hotel, maintaining the great facilities that already exist for visually impaired guests, alongside offering a superb guest experience for everyone to enjoy.”

The hotel, set in three acres of picturesque Lake District woodland, features full leisure facilities and a woodland-themed restaurant. The hotel staff also work with local volunteers to assist those with sight loss and ensure guide dogs also get the best “guest experience” too.

Kerian added: “This is a great opportunity for the loyal, regular visitors to the Windermere Manor to increase their holiday and weekend break options knowing that they are assured of a warm welcome and first class facilities within Starboard’s other hotels in different locations across the UK. All our hotels are dog-friendly and we look forward to ensuring guests with sight loss and their dogs have a fantastic experience at any of our hotels.”

The Windermere Manor hotel will now become part of the Starboard “family” with partner hotels including five Holiday Inn Express hotels in Burnley, Greenock, Tamworth, Leeds and Ramsgate, five Ibis hotels in Sheffield, Leicester, Gatwick, Plymouth and Birmingham, Best Western hotels in Blackpool and Epping and the Days Inn Wetherby.